ACLU Claims Peace Corps Fired HIV+ Volunteer

Jeremiah Johnson, 25, of Colorado, has filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union after he was terminated from the Peace Corps because of his HIV-positive status, reports the Washington Post.

"The Peace Corps does not have a policy of automatically excluding people with HIV," wrote Amanda H. Beck, the agency's press director. "The Peace Corps conducts individualized medical examinations of volunteers and applicants who are HIV-positive."

The letter continues by pointing out that the State Department, in February, had lifted a ban that prevented HIV-positive individuals from becoming Foreign Service officers.

Prior to the change, all HIV-positive applicants were automatically excluded from performing Foreign Service. However, it permitted people who were already employed and became infected with the virus after being hired to remain employed.

What do you think?